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Team doctor to examine Lee's elbow today

On DL, Phils vet exited Thursday's game with recurrence of left elbow strain

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Lee exits with injury 1:47

7/31/14: Cliff Lee points to his left elbow after throwing a pitch and exits the game in the 3rd inning with a left flexor pronator strain

By Daniel Popper
/
MLB.com |

WASHINGTON -- Phillies starter Cliff Lee will have his strained left elbow examined by team physician Dr. Steve Cohen on Saturday, according to manager Ryne Sandberg.

Lee surrendered one hit through his first 2 2/3 innings Thursday night against the Nationals, but after delivering one pitch to Denard Span, the left-hander gestured toward his throwing elbow in frustration and left the contest. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left flexor pronator strain, the same injury that caused him to miss two months earlier this season.

Sandberg said any MRIs or further testing on Lee's elbow would occur in Philadelphia when the Phillies return home after the weekend series in Washington. A specific date for the testing will be determined after Cohen's evaluation.

In the meantime, the Phillies selected the contract of left-hander Cesar Jimenez to fill Lee's spot on the 25-man roster.

"He's been pitching well and he's a multiple-inning guy," Sandberg said of Jimenez, who is 3-2 with a 1.45 ERA in 38 appearances -- two of them starts -- for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

When Lee was sidelined earlier in the season, right-hander David Buchanan took over his spot in the rotation, going 5-5 with 4.40 in 10 starts. But Buchanan was optioned to Lehigh Valley on July 10 to make room for Grady Sizemore.

Moving forward, Sandberg suggested Jimenez could serve as Lee's replacement for the remainder of the season instead of Buchanan.

"That's yet to be totally determined," Sandberg said. "But that's a pretty good candidate there [in Jimenez]. He pitched well [Thursday] night and he's right on schedule."

Daniel Popper is an associate reporter for MLB.com. He also can be found on Twitter @danielrpopper. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.